Zoloft 25mg Vs 50mg (What to expect)

In this blog, we will learn about the difference between 25mg and 50mg zoloft. We will also talk about their beneficial effects as well as their side effects. Stay with us if you wish to read how 25mg zoloft differs from 50mg zoloft.  

Zoloft 25mg Vs 50mg: What’s the difference? 

The only difference between 25mg and 50mg zoloft is the intensity of therapeutic effects. 25 mg is considered a mild dose, whereas 50mg delivers better results. They are basically two strengths of the same medicine, having the same active ingredient, sertraline.

If we talk about 25mg and 50mg, they both have just the difference of 25mg in between and that’s not much. But as stated earlier, the effects depend on individual sensitivity. 

For some people 50 mg zoloft is quite tolerable while for others, it causes serious side effects, so it’s better to start from the lowest effective dose to determine which dose works best for you. 

Zoloft, in tablet form, is available in the following strengths

• 25mg
• 50mg
• 100mg

The maximum dose of zoloft is 200mg (taken as two 100mg tablets) 

When your depression is diagnosed for the first time, it’s best for you to start from the lowest dose possible. Every human body is different. We all are made up of different genetic makeup. 

Your genetic makeup alters your physiological composition. Let’s take an example of something other than depression, to make you understand better. 

You have probably heard about lactose intolerance, as it’s a common condition among people. Why do you think it happens? It happens when your body does not produce enough enzyme, called lactase, which digests the sugar (lactose) in milk.

Here your genetic makeup comes into the picture. It basically decides the types and quantity of enzymes your body makes. 

Now come back to our topic of discussion. As discussed, every human being has a different physiological composition which reacts differently to medications. 

You might settle down on a 25mg dose of zoloft, while someone else ends up needing 50mg for the exact same symptoms. So, zoloft, like other medications, is started at the lowest effective dose. 

If it fails to relieve your symptoms, your doctor might increase the dose to achieve better results. 

Why is zoloft prescribed?

Zoloft is used for a number of psychological illnesses. These include:

Depression 

Depression is a state of mind which is concerned with disturbing thoughts, especially about one’s self. It is associated with symptoms like hopelessness, tearfulness and emptiness. This state makes a person give up on everything. 

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)

GAD is a state of mind in which the person worries about every little thing, whether it’s related to health, wealth, friends, relationships, family, education etc. It’s a constant state of anxiousness. 

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

It is a condition characterised by troublesome thoughts that won’t go away, no matter what you do, and a weird urge to do things over and over again. No matter how many times you do something, it still feels imperfect. 

Panic attacks

They are sudden, uncontrollable attacks of fear and worry. A patient might unwillingly exaggerate a certain condition and gets frightened, often to the point where he gets attacked by seizures. 

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

It is concerned with extreme psychological symptoms that develop after a disturbing incident, such as death of a loved one or a horrific accident. 

Social anxiety disorder

It is a condition in which the patient fears facing crowds or social gatherings, and doesn’t really know how to react among people. 

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Zoloft is also used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder, including symptoms like mood swings, irritability, bloating, and breast tenderness.

Zoloft dose chart

Psychological conditions	Recommended doses
Depression	Adults: 50 mg once a day. Take it as advised by your doctor, either in the morning or at night. Do not exceed 200 mg. Children: Dose is suggested by the doctor according to the condition and body weight.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder	Adults: 50 mg once a day. Some cases might need dose adjustment. Do not exceed 200 mg. Children: 25 mg once a day, taken as advised by the doctor.
Panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, or social anxiety disorder	Adults: 25 mg once a day is considered an initial dose. Do not exceed 200 mg Children: Dose is suggested by the doctor according to the condition and body weight.

Common side effects at 25 mg and 50 mg zoloft

Common side effects of Zoloft include:

• Loss of appetite
• Tiredness
• Feeling angry or agitated
• Weight gain
• Inability to digest food
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Loss of libido
• Sweating/Night sweats
• Tremors or shaking
• Insomnia
• Decreased sex drive
• Impotence
• Inability to ejaculate

Zoloft, sometimes, causes serious side effects. Consult your healthcare provider as soon as you can if these symptoms occur:

• Seizure/convulsions
• Eye pain with vision problems
• Headache
• Confusion
• Agitation
• Memory problems/Dementia 
• Severe weakness and inability to move

Look out for allergies

It is extremely important to look out for allergies. Make sure you inform your doctor if you have any known allergies. People usually tolerate zoloft well but in some people, it causes unwanted side effects. 

As you know medicines not only have the active pharmaceutical ingredient (Sertraline being zoloft’s active ingredient), but they also have other components, called excipients, which help to make the drug palatable. 

So there might be a chance that you are allergic to one of those excipients or the active ingredient itself. Always look out for unusual side effects and immediately inform your healthcare provider if your medicine does not suit you. 

Ensure proper use of zoloft

Administer once daily either morning or evening. The timing at which you take zoloft is decided according to your side effects. It is recommended to take zoloft in the morning if it causes insomnia and loss of libido.

Consult your healthcare provider, if your mood worsens or you experience a serious side effect. Zoloft tends to induce suicidal behavior in users younger than 24 years of age. 

If you have someone who shows suicidal behavior or you see hopelessness in them, make sure you keep an eye on them and get medical attention as soon as you can. 

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you feel symptoms of serotonin syndrome, like chills, fever, nausea, diarrhoea, confusion etc. Do not stop zoloft abruptly. 

If it’s time for you to stop zoloft, your doctor will simply make a taper schedule for you, which should be followed vigilantly if you wish to keep withdrawal symptoms at bay. 

If you notice any bruising or bleeding, report it to your doctor. If you see any unexplained blisters or rashes on your body, or experience any problems with urination, or if you feel changes in your vision, immediately report to your healthcare provider. 

Dilute Zoloft oral liquid before use with water. You can also dilute it in ginger ale, lemon soda, lemonade, or orange juice. Take immediately after mixing. 

What to do if you miss a dose of zoloft

If you’re way past the usual time at which you take your med, do not take it. It will cause you to overdose when you take your next dose, which is not too far away. It’s better to skip the missed dose and take the next one. If you remember your missed dose earlier, it’s safe for you to take it.

Call your doctor if:

• You begin to notice any unusual side effects
• You experience unexplained weight gain or loss
• You get an allergic reaction right after consuming zoloft
• You have accidentally taken zoloft twice or overdosed
• You want to stop using zoloft
• Your side effects don’t go away after weeks of using zoloft
• You feel your dose is too high and you don’t tolerate it well

Conclusion

In this blog, we discussed how 25mg zoloft is different from 50mg zoloft. These are simply two strengths of the same medicine, having the same active ingredient, sertraline. 

There is nothing magical about going from one dose of sertraline to another, as the same effects are predicted, just more pronounced. These effects are also expected to be different in different individuals.

FAQs: zoloft 25mg vs 50mg

Is 25 mg of Zoloft effective?

Zoloft, in tablet form, is available in the strengths of 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. These are prescribed according to the patient’s condition. It is recommended to start from the lowest dose possible, which is 25mg in case of zoloft, but 50mg of zoloft is considered the most effective dose. 

Is sertraline 50mg strong?

Sertraline 50mg per day is considered as the starting dose for most of the patients. According to study, it is tolerated well. The strong dose of sertraline is 200mg

How long does it take for Zoloft 25mg to work?

Zoloft usually takes 4 to 6 week to start producing its effects. Antidepressants don’t work like normal medications. They need time to increase the amount of serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for mood, cognition, memory etc. 

You might feel changes in the first two weeks of your treatment but it needs at least 4 to 6 weeks to attain stability. 

What is sertraline 25mg good for?

Sertraline is used to treat depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder etc. It is also used for premenstrual dysphoric disorder. 

Does 25mg of Zoloft cause weight gain?

Weight gain is one of the most common side effects of antidepressants, and not just zoloft, but other members of the SSRIs family as well, like lexapro, paxil, prozac etc.

According to a study, these medications can cause a weight gain of 10 pounds or more. 

Can 25mg of Zoloft cause side effects?

The beneficial effects and side effects of medicines vary from person to person. Some might find it difficult to tolerate a 25mg dose, while others thrive on 50mg, without any difficulty. 

Most common side effects of zoloft include drowsiness, tiredness feeling anxious or agitated, indigestion, nausea, weight gain, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, sweating, tremors or shaking, sleep problems (insomnia), decreased sex drive, impotence etc. 

References 

• Sertraline 50 mg Tablets – Lupin Healthcare (UK) Ltd https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/7162/smpc#gref
• C Lindsay DeVane et al. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2002. – Clinical pharmacokinetics of sertraline https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12452737/
• S H Preskorn et al. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. (1995) – Sertraline 50 mg daily: the optimal dose in the treatment of depression https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8675965/
• James M. Ferguson, M.D. – SSRI Antidepressant Medications: Adverse Effects and Tolerability https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181155/
• Gemma Lewis, Larisa Duffy, Anthony Ades, Rebekah Amos, Ricardo Araya , Sally Brabyn, Katherine S Button, Rachel Churchill, Catherine Derrick (2019) – The clinical effectiveness of sertraline in primary care and the role of depression severity and duration (PANDA): a pragmatic, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31543474/